from staff
Construction will begin this fall on several major road projects funded by the Better Jacksonville Plan. The projects include Ft. Caroline Road, Collins Road and Touchton Road. In addition, another project on Dean Road will get underway in early summer.
Touchton Road
Set to break ground early this month, Touchton Road will be reconstructed from Belfort Road to Southside Boulevard to include two roundabouts (at Wyngate Forest and at The Montreux) as well as bike lanes, sidewalks and curb and gutter on both sides.
The project bid award amount was $3.9 million, which includes $3.3 million from the City of Jacksonville and about $662,336 from JEA for utility work.
City Council member Don Redman has played a particularly instrumental role in maintaining forward movement on the Touchton Road project.
“I am excited to get this project started,” said Redman. “Once completed, it will provide much needed relief for the nearby residents. I want to encourage drivers to use Gate Parkway, Hogan Road or Newton Road instead of Touchton Road both during and after construction.”
The road will remain open during construction. However, motorists can expect periodic construction delays and partial lane closures. Belfort Road and Gate Parkway may be used as alternate routes to avoid the area. The project is anticipated to be complete in early 2011.
Dean Road
Work will begin to reconstruct Dean Road (Beach Boulevard to Parental Home Road) in early summer 2010, once school has released for summer vacation. The road will be a three-lane “urban” road (curb and gutter) from Beach to the Hendricks Day School entrance and two-lane “rural” road (a blend of both open and closed ditches but no curb and gutter) for the remainder.
Dean Road is anticipated to be complete 270 days after construction has commenced. The project bid award amount is $2.5 million, including the JEA contribution (COJ portion is $1.86 million).
Like Touchton Road, the road will remain open during construction. However, motorists can expect periodic construction delays and partial lane closures.
Fort Caroline Road
Construction to improve the portion of Ft. Caroline Road from Caroline Vale to Merrill Road, will begin early this month. The bid award totals approximately $10.3 million (COJ $7.4 million and JEA $3 million).
The project will include reconstructing the road to two lanes east of 9A and three lanes west of 9A, with bike lanes, sidewalks and curb and gutter on both sides. In addition, a roundabout at Hartsfield Road will be installed to replace the existing traffic signal.
“Residents in this vicinity of Fort Caroline Road, as well as motorists who regularly travel through, are eagerly awaiting completion of the project,” said Council member Clay Yarborough. “They will be grateful not to have to continue driving outside the travel lanes in their efforts to dodge the potholes.”
Motorists will experience some delays during construction including periodic single lane closures controlled by flagmen. Hartsfield Road, Merrill Road and Townsend Boulevard may also be utilized as alternate routes.
The project is anticipated to be complete in early 2011.
Collins Road
Coinciding with the completion of other improvements on Collins Road, work will begin this month to construct a two-lane section (Shindler to Old Middleburg) with curb and gutter, sidewalks and bike lanes on one side. As development and area growth demands, this section will eventually be widened to a four-lane divided roadway with landscaped median(s). This is part of the new Collins Road corridor that will be completed when the Florida Department of Transportation constructs the new interchange at Collins and I-295.
The bid award amount is about $4.3 million and the project is anticipated to be complete in spring 2011.
“This project truly provides an element of continuity with the other work that is scheduled for this area,” said Council member Michael Corrigan. “I know that once completed this will be a welcome addition for motorists.”
For more information about projects under construction, visit www.betterjax.comand click on “Road Projects.”